ABSTRACT
This study presents a pile-integrity testing method using electromagnetic waves. An experimental study is conducted using small-scale defective piles. Two types of defects are simulated in the middle of the model pile. One is a poorly mixed concrete section and the other is a void. A waveguide system for transmitting electromagnetic waves is configured by installing electrical wires alongside a rebar in the model pile. The electromagnetic waves are generated and detected using a time domain reflectometer. Consequently, the results revealed that poor-quality concrete decreases the amplitude and velocity of the electromagnetic waves. The void increases the amplitude and velocity of the electromagnetic waves. This study suggests that electromagnetic waves can be an effective tool for evaluating pile integrity.
